Clothes-drier.



PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905.

A. M. PADMORE.

CLOTHES DRIER.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 14.1904.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLOTH ES-DRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1905.

Application filed May 14, 1904. Serial No. 207,971.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, ARTHUR MEYRIGK PAD- MORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lead, in the county of Lawrence and State of South Dakota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding (llothes-Driers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a clothes reel or drier of the type supported by a central post and having spreading arms between which the lines extend and which are adapted to be folded close against the post when not in use.

The construction and arrangement of the several parts of my invention will be described hereinafter in connection with the drawings, and the novel features pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved clothes reel or drier in position for use. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the supporting-post and parts thereon. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in plan of the plate to which the arms are pivoted. Fig. 1 is a side view of the same part. Fig. 5 is an enlarged inverted plan view of the head to which the brace-arms are attached. Fig. 6 is a side view of the same element. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the lower end of the lifting-handle, showing the thumbcatch.

Similar numerals indicate the same parts in the several figures.

1 indicates a post rising from the ground in a vertical position to a suitable height. Near its upper end the diameter is slightly reduced at 2 to lit a cap-bearing 3, having a central opening for the passage therethrough of the short stub end 1 of the post 1. Fitted overthe stub end 1 is a tubular sleeve 5, supported in vertical position by said stub end. Surrounding said sleeve 5 and resting on the cap-bearing 3 is a plate 6, having a number of equally-spaced slots 7 formed in its edge and ears 8 rising from its upper surface at the side edges of said slots. Four slots are shown in the drawings; but I do not wish to confine myself to any particular number. Surrounding the opening 9 in the plate 6 through which the sleeve 5 passes is a neck 10, forming a part of said plate, above which neck is placed a collar 10, screwed to the section 5 and stub end 4 of the post 1, the three parts being thus securely fastened together. The

plate 6 is not fastened to the sleeve 5, but is fitted to turn freely thereon and on the capbearing 3. A guide-lug 11 projects radially from the plate 6 between two of the slots 7 and has formed therethrough a perforation 12 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

13 indicates arms pivoted to the lugs 8, which arms project normally in a horizontal direction radial to the post 1. The rope or wire line 1 1 on which the clothing is hung is connected in any suitable manner on the under sides of the radial arms 13. (See Fig. l.)

The sleeve 5 carries at its upper end a cap 15 and receives a reduced post-section 16, which passes through said cap and extends upwardly to a suitable height above the post 1. The upper end of the cap 15 is reduced and forms a bearing 17 for a head 18, which is rotatable thereon and about the said upper post-section 16. The head 18 has a downwardly projecting hub 19, resting 011 the flange-bearing 17 and adapted to turn about the pipe 16 as the head is rotated. Surrounding each arm 13, about midway its length, is a strap or band 20, secured to the arm and having lugs 21, in which one end of the bracerod 22 is pivoted. The opposite end of each brace-rod extends upwardly at an angle to the head 18 and is connected by a pivot-bolt to the depending lugs 23 thereon.

24: indicates a rod for operating the drier. It is pivoted to cars 25 on the head 18 and passes downwardly through the opening 12 in the guide-lug 11 to a point within easy reach of a person. The lower end of the 0perating-rod 24: is fashioned into a handle 26, immediately above which is a depression 27, having a spring-latch 28 therein, as clearly shown in Fig. 7.

When the arms 13 are spread and the lines 14 drawn taut, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the drier is ready for the reception of clothes. To fold the arms, the operating-rod 24 is pushed up until the latch 28 catches over the guidelug 11, which holds the rod in elevated position. This movement of the rod carries the head 18 with it, which, through the brace-rods 22, swings the arms 13 upwardly until they lie closely to the pipe or upper section 16, out of the way and greatly lessening the space 0ccupied by the drier. The arms are quickly lowered to position by pressing the thumbpieee 29 of the latch until the latter is disengaged from the guidedug, when the arms will unfold by gravity. Their speed of falling will of course be regulated by the person holding the operating-rod.

When my invention is not used as a clothesdrier, a canvas or other cover may be placed over the arms to produce a shady spot on the lawn. The cover may also be used to protect clothes hanging on the lines from soot or dust falling thereon. A tent may also be formed by attaching canvas to the topof the pipe 16 and fastening it to the end of the arms 13. lValls may be added to the tent by hanging canvas from the ends of the arms. I

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a clothes-drier, a post, a rotatablehead mounted upon the post and having a guide member, a second head rotatably mounted upon the post above the first-named head and serving as a runner, arms pivoted to the lower head, rods pivotally connecting said arms to the upper head, an operating-rod connected to the upper head and guided by the guide member of the lower head, and means carried by said rod to engage said guide member and lock the rod thereto at the limit of its upward movement.

2. A clothes-drier comprising a post consisting of a base-section and a reduced upper section, the said base-section being provided with a reduced portion at its upper end and a bearing at the lower end of said reduced portion,

a sleeve mounted on said reduced portion of the base-section and receiving the lower end of the upper post-section, said sleeve being provided at its upper end with a bearing, a head rotatably mounted upon the bearing at the lower end of the reduced portion of the base-section and provided with a guide member, a collar surrounding the sleeve above said head and confining the same in place, said collar being secured with the sleeve to the reduced portion of the base-section, a runner adapted to rotate upon the bearing on the sleeve and to slide upon the upper section of the post, arms pivoted to the head, rods pivotally connecting said arms to the runner, and an adjusting-rod connected at its upper end to the runner and guided by the guide member of the head and provided with a latch device to engage said guide member when the latter is moved upwardly to fold the arms and lock the rod in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR MEYRICK PADMORE. l/Vitnesses:

W. H. MONHEIM, IRA L. HUNGERFORD. 

